Blog

Impact Dakota Blog is a blog dedicated to supporting North Dakota’s manufacturing community improve People, Purpose, Processes and Performance. Entries provide information on opportunities, new ideas, quick tips, celebrations of success, and well, frankly, anything to help you become a better manufacturer.

June 28, 2021

Commonly Misused Terms in CybersecurityData vs. Information vs. Knowledge. Threat vs. Risk. When it comes to cybersecurity there is still much confusion about even ubiquitous terms. Check out this unofficial list of some commonly misused terms in the field of cybersecurity to understand these key terms and how they are used.

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June 3, 2021

Maintaining Your Online PrivacyOnline privacy is becoming increasingly important as we move closer to a fully internet-connected world. It's important to consider both security and privacy to keep your business's information safe. But how do you maintain online privacy? Here are some tips.

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May 26, 2021

Introducing the MEP Workforce DatabaseIf you want to understand how the #MEPNationalNetwork is approaching workforce development across the 50 States and Puerto Rico, what do you do? The Network has developed the MEP Workforce Database that contains information on what programs MEP Centers are currently offering and what programs Centers would like to offer in the future. Since this database is presently only accessible by MEP Centers, you can contact your local MEP Center to gain some of the insights it contains. #workforcedevelopment

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May 25, 2021

Data Breach Notification Laws: How to Manufacture a Confident ResponseWith the number of reported data breaches steadily increasing every year, they are in the news so frequently that it’s hard to keep them all straight. Data breaches affect all types of organizations – large and small, popular and little known. If your manufacturing company experiences a breach, what will you do? Learn about data breach notification laws, how much time you have to report and how to prepare for a potential breach.

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April 19, 2021

Whether You Build Them or Buy Them – IoT Device Security Concerns Us AllIf you’re a small or medium-sized manufacturer venturing into the IoT waters, it’s helpful to be prepared for the potential cybersecurity pitfalls, whether in the form of implications for organizational risk management when introducing IoT to the environment or considerations for product design and support when entering the marketplace as a product vendor. The NIST Cybersecurity for the Internet of Things program is working to provide the information needed to navigate these potentially turbulent waters.

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April 7, 2021

MEP Centers – On the Frontlines of Diversity, Equity and InclusionThis blog is the second in a monthly series brought to you by the new America Works initiative. As a part of the MEP National Network’s goal of supporting the growth of small and medium-sized manufacturing companies, this series focuses on innovative approaches and uncovering the latest trends in manufacturing workforce development.

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March 22, 2021

America Works – An Innovative Approach to Workforce DevelopmentThis blog is the first in a monthly series brought to you by the new America Works initiative. As a part of the MEP National Network’s goal of supporting the growth of small and medium-sized manufacturing companies, this series focuses on innovative approaches to workforce development.

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March 9, 2021

Detecting Abnormal Cyber Behavior Before a CyberattackConnecting sensors and devices to our industrial control systems (ICS), and the increase in remote work and monitoring, results in manufacturing networks with greater vulnerabilities to cyberattack. This is an increasingly challenging dynamic as manufacturers sort out how to adopt commercial information technology (IT) standards that are compatible with their operational technology (OT) standards.

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February 25, 2021

Sometimes It’s Not Easy Being a Small ManufacturerThe COVID-19 pandemic has presented big challenges for small manufacturers. That was the message of three leaders from manufacturing companies located in two Southwestern states. Fortunately, the MEP National Network is here for the small (and medium-sized) manufacturer!

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February 22, 2021

During a “National Conversation with Manufacturers” session, panelists sent a clear message to the MEP National Network: Don’t let up now. It may take years for manufacturers to fully recover from the current crisis. The Network’s expertise and broad reach can help drive the understanding of manufacturing best practices — from training to lean production to technology adoption and integration — that will help drive recovery. The Network should seize on its heightened brand awareness to champion innovation and efficiency.

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